Who's Online

I'm Looking For A Dog

First, this would be my first dog. I'm a 16 year old boy who wants a dog and is trying to get his mother to get one. I think she wants one too because she works from home and is lonely here. My mother and brother (19 years old) are both allergic to the hair but it isn't very severe. I would like a dog that doesn't shed too much (I've looked at a Schauzer-type) and possibly is hypo-allergenic. I have a medium-to-big yard with open spaces and there are many neighbors around me that have dogs. I would like a dog that can be somewhat attached to their owner (so he/she doesn't just run off when I come home from school). I am looking for a small-to-medium sized dog that is relatively low maintenence. What breeds should I read up on? Do I need to give more information about myself? Thanks in advance.

There is no such thing as a hypo allergenic dog. Only lower dander dogs.

Lots of people are allergic to saliva, not just dander, so you would pretty much need to make appointments with the breeders of any dog you have in mind to see if allergies act up being with certain breeds or not. Only then can you make an infromed descission out of what breeds didn't cause your allergies to flare up as to what dog might be right for your family.

Well with that being said (or written I guess), what about a Schnoodle? I've read a bit about them and everyone says that they are very good for people with allergies and they seem to fit all of my "requirements".

The problem with 'schnoodles' is that it's virtually impossible to find a reputable breeder of them. Most 'schnoodle' breeders are only out to get money, not to better the breed (which is impossible, as it's not a breed). They generally don't do any health testing, offer any health guarantee or anything that a good breeder would do. It'd be far easier for you to find a responsible breeder that genuinely cares about you and the homes their dogs go to if you looked for a purebred dog than if you went to someone who purposefully breeds 'designer breeds'.

Regardless of whether you go wtih a purebred dog or a mixed breed, make sure that the breeder has had the dogs elbows and knees OFAed as clear, has had the eyes CERFed (and provides documentation of this). Also, I cna't stress the importance of getting a health guarantee of at least 2 years against defects, and a written contract that explains what exactly the breeder's responsibilities are if the dog comes down with crippling elbow dysplasia or something like that when the dog is 15 months old or something liket hat.

YOu can get those kinds of guarantees from purebred dog breeders.. I've never seen a guarantee like that from anyone who breeds mixed breed dogs.

lookingfordog. a schnoodle is a mized breed as you know, but it si breed on purpose to fill a consumer demand. the dogs are breed with out much purpose except to be cute and cuddly. there are not any set standards for what a quality "schnoodle" should be. so many designer dog breeders pump these dogs out with out much care. we have seen many people come and go from this site, who have recieved very ill breed designer dogs, or the dogs were sick. many of whom died after the owner aquired thousands in vt bills. now getting a mixed breed that may be was "accidental litter" does not carry this baggage. shelters and rescues are great for this. purebreds are no better, just different. I am a purebred guy. but my wife loves shelter dogs. I think for your first dog, that you just want as a pet a ahelter dog (mixed or pure) will be just fine. take your time look around, finding the best dog takes looking at many dogs. I have been looking for a breeder for almost a year for my next dog. I am very excited and really want apup. but i wan tthe best pup possible this week the dog and bitch i aminterested will be breed and hopefully come october i willt ake delivery of a pup. take it slow and go look at as many dogs as you can. this way you will know which breeds or mixes suit you.

So you would recommend just going to a shelter and looking at dogs? Is there any way to find a shelter that has certain breeds or anything? Sorry if these are dumb questions but I am obviously new at this.

actually in this case I think a shelter is a bad idea, and here's why. There's no way for your sister and mother to go to a shelter and be around a single dog without feeling the allergen effects of every other dog there.

Instead, contact private (and good) breeders of breeds that you are interested in, and arrange for an in home visit with the whole family, so they can test their sensitivities to adult dogs of that breed.

There are very very few breeders of designer mutts anywhere in the world. The few I have heard about are the ones trying to actually develop labradoodles into a breed by doing it the painstaking and responsible way.

You'd be hard pressed to find a breeder of a schnoodle that is responsible: IE one that:

Doesn't breed every heat Doesn't breed bitches under 2 Does All the necessary health certifying Tests the bitch and stud for everythign required Offers a resonable - superb health guarantee Doesn't lie about their 'breed'

Minn's right. Why not chose one or the other. Here's a few other things to consider...

1) If the look is what you are going for with a schnoodle, there is no guarantee how it will look

2) Same goes for temperment

3) I have never been a proponent of mixing breeds unless it is done by a professional breeder for the sole purpose of creating a new breed-NOT a designer dog-that's not a new breed. There are too many health and genetic risks that are taken and unless the breeder is extremely knowledgable with both breeds, you may not have a structurally sound and healthy dog.

4) I do not believe that hybrid vigor in dogs is all worth all of the hype. It has worked for large animals, such as cattle and horses, but with all of the canine breeds and genetic diseases, I yet have found no good research to insist that hybrid vigor is good for breeding-but on the contrary.

If you can't decide which is better-crossing them is not going to solve that. If you are not happy with either breed, then look for another one. There are many more things to consider as they list for low dander dogs is longer than these 2 breeds.

Unless you are able to find someone who is literally working to establish a breed and is starting a parent club and has vet and research referrences, i would stay away. IF you do find that breeder, you will probably pay very high dollar for your pet.

I am allergic to dogs, among other things. We have a Havanese and I have no reaction to her. When we looked for a dog, I had to go to the breeders home and we spent 2 hours with the puppies, I had no reaction. I don't know how the allergies show up in your family but with me it's hives and it doesn't take long for me to react.